Plumbing my basement sump!

Kevinsreefs · Feb 25, 2017

Hey guys, so I'm trying to plan my new tank build thoroughly before I proceed with it and want to make sure I think of everything.

So the tank will be a 220 gallon (6x2) with a basement sump. I'm thinking of having the water flow into a standard 120 (4x2) which will house the skimmer (12" Reef Octopus not sure exactly which model) and a BRS reactor with some carbon. I will then have this flow into a 300 gallon stock tank which will have about 200-300 lbs of live rock and macro algae (chaeto/dragons breath) for some extra nutrient export!

My main question is, should I have the fuge be in the 120 and have that drain to the skimmer in the stock tank or keep it the way described above. I guess my concern would be the skimmer sucking up a lot of the pods and that's even before they get shot back up by the return pump! Thanks, and let me know guys!

mcarroll · Feb 25, 2017

Sounds like a fun build!!!

Some thoughts:

I'd consider the Tunze DOC Skimmer 9415 ($584) for a display like that normally, but it sounds like you're going to end up with a lot more volume than just an ordinary 220+sump....so you might consider the DOC Skimmer 9430 or DOC Skimmer 9430 DC as well. ($650/$750)
- All 12" skimmers, for what it's worth.
- The tallest ones are just over 19".
Don't worry about the pods
I would have the skimmer treat the drain water as directly as possible

Kevinsreefs · Feb 25, 2017

mcarroll said:
Sounds like a fun build!!!

Some thoughts:

I'd consider the Tunze DOC Skimmer 9415 ($584) for a display like that normally, but it sounds like you're going to end up with a lot more volume than just an ordinary 220+sump....so you might consider the DOC Skimmer 9430 or DOC Skimmer 9430 DC as well. ($650/$750)

All 12" skimmers, for what it's worth.

The tallest ones are just over 19".

Don't worry about the pods

I would have the skimmer treat the drain water as directly as possible

Awesome thanks for the input! I already got the skimmer and it is a beast! It was stripping nutrients from my buddy's 300+ gallon tank too quickly and it has a huge bubble blaster pump! Already tested it and it pulls out gunk so quick! Worst case scenario, I'll throw in my Skimz Monzter 203 skimmer in conjunction and run them both!

I'm going to have the skimmer drain into the waste drain in the basement, and it will have a neck cleaner! I want to implement a cup wash down system so if anyone has any experience with those, let me know!

I want my system to be as automated as possible. I'm away from my tanks a lot as I am in college 2.5 hours away from home and my main 125+ gallon system is pretty much self sustaining with maintenance every so often when I go home!

Kevinsreefs · Feb 25, 2017

mcarroll said:
Sounds like a fun build!!!

Some thoughts:

I'd consider the Tunze DOC Skimmer 9415 ($584) for a display like that normally, but it sounds like you're going to end up with a lot more volume than just an ordinary 220+sump....so you might consider the DOC Skimmer 9430 or DOC Skimmer 9430 DC as well. ($650/$750)

All 12" skimmers, for what it's worth.

The tallest ones are just over 19".

Don't worry about the pods

I would have the skimmer treat the drain water as directly as possible

So you're thinking have the drain go to the 120 which will house the skimmer and all other equipment, then have it drain to the stock tank/refugium?

Kevinsreefs · Apr 18, 2017

Update on the Sump Build!
I came home for Easter Break and did a few little things here and there!

I decided not to go with the 120 gallon refugium as previously stated because the room was becoming quickly limited after I decided to add the 300 gallon stock tank.

Now I will have the drain feed the 300 gallon refugium/display Reef and that will drain into the 150 holding the skimmer and GFO.

First, I had a 150 gallon stock tank full of live rock I got from my buddy's tank that he broke down. I had two little clownfish in the strainer for a few hours while I set up the 300 and I didn't want them getting sucked up by the skimmer or the return pump.

Then I finally moved the 300 down and started filling it up. Boy was that thing a beast! It was the size of a shallow hot tub! You can see the mess of wires I have behind that.

Speaking of a mess of wires, I installed Reefkeeper and I have a lot of wire management to do next time I come home.

Here's what the two sumps together look like with my father standing in front of it talking[emoji23] this was before they were plumbed together!

I threw one MarsAqua LED and a Par 38 LED bulb over the top to keep the coralline algae on the rock, grow the chaeto and keep the few palys and a bubble tip anemone that has been in the 150 for a while. There's also a few shrooms and some green slimer in there as well.

I actually really like the aquascape I have going on in the display 300 sump and I think I'm going to keep it, add a few tangs and keep it the way it is.

Right now there are 2 x 1.5 inch bulkheads connecting the two tanks and a strainer on the 300 side to prevent anything other than water from flowing into the 150. A float valve is plumbed into the 150 to keep water level constant (no need for an ATO) and a giant 12" Reef Octopus Skimmer with a bubble blaster pump is skimming the system.